草莓丝核菌根腐病的病原菌鉴定

 由丝核菌引起的根腐病是草莓生产上的重要病害之一。本研究基于形态学、菌丝细胞核荧光染色、菌丝融合群测定、rDNA-ITS序列分析和柯赫氏法则验证,对北京地区引起草莓根腐病的丝核菌进行了鉴定。2014年从北京市昌平区温室草莓根腐病病样中分离纯化获得的3个代表菌株,经形态学和细胞核荧光染色,确定均为双核丝核菌(binucleate Rhizoctonia, BNR),且与双核丝核菌AG-A融合群菌株发生菌丝融合,菌株CP-Z的rDNA-ITS序列与GenBank中丝核菌属的有性型角担菌属(Ceratobasidium)AG-A融合群 4个菌株的相似性达100%。菌株CP-Z接种草莓根部,引起根系变黑、腐烂,植株死亡,从接种发病的根部可重新分离到双核丝核菌。双核丝核菌AG-A融合群引起草莓根腐病为国内首次报道。该病原菌菌丝生长适温为25℃~28℃。     

中国东北地区水稻纹枯病病原菌种类及融合群的分子鉴定

为明确中国东北地区水稻纹枯病病原菌种类及融合群的归属情况, 2015－2017年从黑龙江省、吉林省和辽宁省的17个水稻主产区采集水稻纹枯病标样, 分离获得水稻纹枯病菌214株, 运用水稻纹枯病菌的不同病原菌及融合群的特异性引物对214株水稻纹枯病菌进行病原菌种类和融合群鉴定, 并利用rDNA内转录间隔区(ITS)序列, 对供试水稻丝核菌的融合群归属进行了分析。结果表明:供试214株水稻纹枯病菌分属于茄丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani和水稻丝核菌Rhizoctonia oryzae-sativae, 菌株数分别为198株和16株, 占比分别为92.52%和7.48%。茄丝核菌菌株分属于2个融合群, 分别为AG1-IA和AG4, 菌株数分别为191株和7株, 占比分别为96.46%和3.54%。水稻丝核菌菌株均属于AG-Bb融合群, 菌株数为16株。不同年份水稻纹枯病的病原菌种类及融合群出现的频率和地域分布无明显变化, 而不同地域间水稻纹枯病病原菌的种类及融合群具有明显的分化特征, AG1-IA融合群在中国东北三省各个水稻产区均有分布且均为优势融合群, AG4融合群在辽宁省盘锦市出现频率最高, 水稻丝核菌AG-Bb融合群在吉林省吉林市、通化市和梅河口市出现频率最高。     

江苏大麦纹枯病菌的种类、分布及致病性的研究

 从江苏11个地区采集的大麦纹枯病病株上分离到92个丝核菌分离物,经菌丝融合测试,分别属于禾谷丝核菌的CAG1、CAG4、CAG5、AGC1、AGE,以及立枯丝核菌的AG1-IA,AG1-IC、AG2-1和AG5等9个不同的菌丝融合群,各群分离物数依次为76(82、6%)、1、2、4、2、1、1、2和3个。它们在感病大麦品种LEGIA和中抗品种CI3906。1上的致病性反应表明:不同丝核菌种间、不同丝核菌的融合群间、来自不同地区及来自同一品种上的菌株间,其致病性差异达到极显著水平;而同种丝核菌不同融合群间和不同品种间的菌株致病力虽有差异,但不明显;总的来讲,禾谷丝核菌的CAG1群菌株致病力最强,且分布广泛,其它各群致病力由强到弱的排列顺序为:AG5、AG1-1A、AGE、AGC1、CAG4、AG1-1C、CAG5和AG2-1。     

引起山西省小麦纹枯病的丝核菌融合群鉴定及其对不同杀菌剂的敏感性

为明确引起山西省小麦纹枯病的丝核菌Rhizoctonia种类及其对杀菌剂的敏感性,通过形态学特征观察、rDNA ITS序列分析及致病性测定鉴定分离自23个麦区小麦病样的195株纹枯病菌,并采用菌丝生长速率法测定菌株对氟酰胺、噻呋酰胺和己唑醇的敏感性。结果显示,所有菌株的菌落形态接近于丝核菌,呈双核,可与融合群（anastomosis group,AG）D组各亚群菌株菌丝发生融合反应,但在系统发育树中全部与AG-DI亚群菌株聚为一支,表明195株菌株均为禾谷丝核菌R. ce-realis AG-DI亚群,且经致病性试验验证这些菌株均为山西省小麦纹枯病的病原菌。氟酰胺、噻呋酰胺和己唑醇对菌株的EC₅₀范围分别为0.092~0.610、0.067~0.142和0.008~0.111 μg/mL,均值分别为0.331、0.074和0.052 μg/mL,且菌株对氟酰胺、噻呋酰胺和己唑醇的敏感性频率分布均呈连续的单峰曲线,因此可将以上均值作为山西省小麦纹枯病病原菌禾谷丝核菌AG-DI亚群对氟酰胺、噻呋酰胺和己唑醇的敏感基线。     

东北地区烟草靶斑病菌(Rhizoctonia solani)融合群、致病力分化及品种抗病性研究

2013-2014年吉林省、黑龙江省烟区首次大面积发生烟草靶斑病,损失严重。采集吉林省柳河县、黑龙江省林口县和宾县的烟草靶斑病病叶进行分离纯化,得到了12个菌株。将所获菌株分别与立枯丝核菌标准融合群菌株AG-2、AG-3、AG-4进行对峙培养,结果表明:此12个菌株均与立枯丝核菌AG-3标准菌株发生融合反应,不与其他融合群发生融合;随机选取3个县各1个代表性菌株,提取菌丝基因组DNA并对其ITS序列进行分析与比对,菌株HLJ-2、JL-1、HLJ-7的ITS序列与辽宁省烟草靶斑病菌菌株LF-2、LJT-8(AG-3融合群)的同源性达99%~100%,因此推断,吉林省、黑龙江省烟草靶斑病菌与辽宁省烟草靶斑病菌应属于同一个融合群,即立枯丝核菌AG-3融合群(Rhizoctonia solani AG-3)。根据各菌株在鉴别寄主上表现的抗性不同,可将吉林省、黑龙江省所有菌株分为3个致病类型,即致病类型Ⅰ、致病类型Ⅱ和致病类型Ⅲ。同一省份不同菌株间致病力有差异,黑龙江省菌株3种致病类型均有,以致病类型Ⅱ为主;吉林省菌株只有致病类型Ⅰ和致病类型Ⅱ。分别选取3个省的强致病力菌株,用离体叶片接种法鉴定了我国21个主栽烟草品种对靶斑病的室内抗病性,结果表明:没有免疫或抗病品种,‘龙江981’、‘NC297’对供试的3个强致病力菌株均表现中抗,‘中烟202’、‘云烟97’、‘NC55’、‘KRK26’和‘G28’分别对不同菌株表现中抗。     

玉米纹枯病菌细胞核纯化与原生质体转化的探讨

 引起玉米纹枯病的立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani Kühn)多为多核杂核真菌,也难以通过有性态使其细胞核进行单一化。利用原生质体再生的方法对单核玉米纹枯病菌JN的细胞核进行同核纯化,比较从单个原生质体再生菌获得的rDNA\|ITS序列,发现序列间存在差异,说明其细胞核没有达到预期纯化的效果。继而扩增了双核和多核玉米纹枯病菌的rDNA\|ITS序列,发现它们自身的rDNA\|ITS序列也存在差异,因此认为立枯丝核菌的这种rDNA\|ITS序列的差异可能是长期未经过有性阶段的结果且与其细胞核数目无关。使用转化丝状真菌的载体转化纹枯菌未获得稳定的转化子,进而对载体进行了改造,用纹枯菌(AG\|3)actin基因的启动子和终止子控制潮霉素基因构建了载体pRsA。利用PEG介导的原生质体转化方法,实现了对单核纹枯菌的转化,PCR验证得到3个转化子。但在PDA培养基连续继代5代后,转化子的潮霉素抗性消失。结果对改进纹枯菌的转化方法有借鉴意义。     

我国部分地区玉米丝核菌组成及其致病类型分析

IA为主要融合群;双核丝核菌为AG-A融合群;单核丝核菌种类尚不确定.对各融合群的致病类型进行初步比较发现,属于AG1-IA融合群的菌株,可在玉米叶鞘形成典型的云纹状病斑,其它菌株虽可引起玉米发病,但与AG1-IA的症状存在明显差异.     

小麦纹枯病菌的分子检测

小麦茎基部可寄居多种真菌,并可导致发褐、坏死等症状,与小麦纹枯病相混淆.为准确诊断小麦纹枯病,根据江苏省小麦茎基部常见寄居菌禾谷丝核菌Rhizoctonia cerealis、立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani、长蠕孢菌Helminthosporium spp.、交链孢菌Alternaria spp.、小麦全蚀病菌Gaeumannomyces graminis var.tritici和禾谷镰刀菌Fsarium graminearum rDNA的ITS区段序列差别,设计合成了2对特异性扩增引物(DNF77 DNR554,DNF81 DNR564)用于小麦纹枯病菌检测.2对引物均能从小麦纹枯病菌株扩增到特异性的分子片段,说明设计的特异性引物可以用来检测小麦纹枯病菌.采集田间具有小麦纹枯病症状、茎基部变褐及健康麦苗,进行病原菌分离,同时提取这些麦苗茎基部DNA,利用上述2对引物进行扩增.结果表明,仅从能分离到禾谷丝核菌的麦组织中扩增到约480bp的特异性条带.说明设计的特异性引物可以对田间小麦纹枯病进行早期、快速分子诊断.     

西南地区玉米纹枯病病菌融合群鉴定和UP-PCR分析

为明确西南地区玉米纹枯病病菌组成结构,从西南地区(四川、贵州、云南和重庆)玉米纹枯病样上分离获得285个疑似丝核菌菌株,根据培养性状、菌丝形态和细胞核染色对其进行鉴定,通过载玻片配对培养法对鉴定出的菌株进行菌丝融合群鉴定,并采用UP-PCR方法从各融合群中选取代表性菌株进行遗传变异分析。结果显示,供试疑似菌株中共鉴定出253个丝核菌,分别为224株立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani和29株玉蜀黍丝核菌R.zeae。立枯丝核菌包括5个融合群,其中AG1-ⅠA共201株,出现频率为79.4%;AG1-ⅠB共2株,出现频率为0.8%;AG2-2ⅢB共3株,出现频率为1.2%;AG4-HGⅠ共10株,出现频率为3.9%;AG-5共8株,出现频率为3.2%。29株玉蜀黍丝核菌融合群均为WAG-Z,出现频率为11.5%。遗传变异分析中,当相似系数为0.78时,按照出现频率从立枯丝核菌和玉蜀黍丝核菌选取的不同融合群的20株菌株被划分为6个类群,与菌丝融合分析结果完全吻合,其中AG2-2ⅢB融合群首次从西南地区玉米上分离到。     

苦瓜枯萎病菌的鉴定及其遗传多样性分析

 对分离获得的32株苦瓜枯萎病菌菌株进行形态学特征和寄主专化型测定, 结果表明, 测试的苦瓜枯萎病菌株均为尖孢镰刀菌苦瓜专化型 (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae), 这些菌株可以侵染苦瓜和瓠瓜幼苗, 但不侵染其他葫芦科瓜类作物。对苦瓜枯萎病菌菌株的rDNA-ITS区 (ITS1、5.8S和ITS2)序列进行扩增测序, 结果显示其序列长度均为456 bp;聚类分析表明测序菌株与镰刀菌属中尖孢镰刀菌不同专化型的菌株聚为一群。利用RAPD标记技术分析苦瓜枯萎病菌的遗传多样性, 结果显示苦瓜枯萎病菌株与其他葫芦科瓜类作物枯萎病菌株间的遗传相似系数范围为0.59~0.99, 当遗传相似系数为0.85时, 供试的48个菌株分成10个类群 (G_1~10)。在RAPD聚类树中所有苦瓜枯萎病菌株聚在一个分支上 (G₁群), 菌株间的遗传相似系数范围为0.92~1.00, 具有较高的遗传相似性, 且菌株的聚群与地理来源存在一定的相关性。     

烟草靶斑病菌菌丝融合群及ITS序列分析

 烟草靶斑病是2006年我国新报道发生的一种叶部病害^［1］,其病原的无性世代为立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani Kühn),有性世代为瓜亡革菌(Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank)Donk)。该病菌主要危害叶部形成病斑,对烟草的产量和品质影响显著,目前该病害主要分布在辽宁省丹东和铁岭地区,并呈现出迅速蔓延趋势。烟草靶斑病最早由巴西报道,此后,哥斯达黎加、美国、南非和津巴布韦也相继发生^［2,3］。     

Characterization of AG-13, a Newly Reported Anastomosis Group of Rhizoctonia solani

ABSTRACT Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG)-13 was collected from diseased roots of field grown cotton plants in Georgia in the United States. Isolates of AG-13 did not anastomose with tester isolates of AG-1 through AG-12. Mycelium of all isolates of AG-13 were light brown but darkened as cultures aged. All isolates produced aerial mycelium. Concentric rings were visible after 3 to 4 days of growth but disappeared as cultures aged and darkened. Individual sclerotia were up to 1.5 mm in diameter, similar in color to the mycelium, and generally embedded in the agar. Clumps of sclerotia up to 5 mm in diameter were produced on the agar surface. All attempts to induce basidiospore production were unsuccessful. The 5.8S region of the rDNA from isolates of AG-13 was identical in length and sequence to isolates of all other AGs of R. solani. Length and sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA from isolates of AG-13 were unique among AGs of R. solani. Similarity between AG-13 and other AGs of R. solani ranged from 68 to 85% for ITS region 1 and 85 to 95% for ITS region 2. Selected isolates of AG-13 caused minor or no damage to barley, cauliflower, cotton, lettuce, potato, and radish in laboratory or greenhouse studies.     

Identification and quantification of Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae using real-time polymerase chain reaction

Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae are the principal causal agents of Rhizoctonia root rot in dryland cereal production systems of the Pacific Northwest. To facilitate the identification and quantification of these pathogens in agricultural samples, we developed SYBR Green I-based real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays specific to internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of R. solani and R. oryzae. The assays were diagnostic for R. solani AG-2-1, AG-8, and AG-10, three genotypes of R. oryzae, and an AG-I-like binucleate Rhizoctonia species. Quantification was reproducible at or below a cycle threshold (Ct) of 33, or 2 to 10 fg of mycelial DNA from cultured fungi, 200 to 500 fg of pathogen DNA from root extracts, and 20 to 50 fg of pathogen DNA from soil extracts. However, pathogen DNA could be specifically detected in all types of extracts at about 100-fold below the quantification levels. Soils from Ritzville, WA, showing acute Rhizoctonia bare patch harbored 9.4 to 780 pg of R. solani AG-8 DNA per gram of soil.. Blastn, primer-template duplex stability, and phylogenetic analyses predicted that the Q-PCR assays will be diagnostic for isolates from Australia, Israel, Japan, and other countries.     

Comparison of rDNA-ITS Sequences between Potato and Tobacco Strains in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> AG-3

Genetic diversity among 51 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3, representing potato and tobacco populations, was inferred from the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. The 5.8S rDNA sequence was completely conserved not only in AG-3, but across all the AG isolates examined, whereas the rDNA-ITS sequence was found to be variable among the isolates. The nucleotide sequence similarity in the ITS 1 region was high (96-100%) for isolates within each of the two populations, but was 91-92% for isolates from different populations. The AG-3 isolates had 56 to 91% sequence similarities in the ITS 1 region with R. solani isolates of the other AGs. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS-5.8S rDNA sequence data indicated that the different populations in AG-3 are distantly related to each other. Genetic divergence between the two populations was also supported by the results of DNA-DNA hybridization studies. This study suggests that AG-3 consists of two genetically isolated groups corresponding to separate subgroups: AG-3 PT (potato type) and AG-3 TB (tobacco type). Specific primer sets for the detection of the two AG-3 subgroups were developed from the aligned rDNA-ITS sequences. Received 22 April 1999/ Accepted in revised form 2 July 1999     

Rhizoctonia species and anastomosis groups isolated from barley and wheat in Erzurum, Turkey

Ninety-eight isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were obtained from barley and wheat grown in Erzurum, Turkey. Of these, 78% were Rhizoctonia solani (AG-2 type 1, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5 and AG-11), 10% were binucleate Rhizoctonia (AG-I and AG-K) and the remainder were Waitea circinata var circinata ( Rhizoctonia sp.). Among the binucleate Rhizoctonia , AG-I was not recovered from barley. In pathogenicity tests on barley and wheat, the highest disease severity was caused by isolates of AG-4 and AG-11, whereas isolates of AG-2 type 1, AG-3, AG-5 and W. c . var  circinata were moderately virulent. Isolates of binucleate Rhizoctonia were all nonpathogenic. This is the first report of R. solani AG-11 and W. c . var  circinata from Turkey.     

The first report of tomato foot rot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> AG-3 PT and AG-2-Nt and its host range and molecular characterization

Foot rot of mature tomato plants was found in four cities of Hokkaido, Japan, from 2004 to 2007. Six of eight isolates obtained from damaged tissues were identified as Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG)-3, and the remaining two isolates belonged to AG-2-1. We compared these isolates with nine reference isolates including the different subgroups in AG-3 (PT, TB and TM) and AG-2-Nt (pathogen of tobacco leaf spot) within AG-2-1 in terms of pathogenicity to tomato, tobacco and potato. All eight isolates caused foot rot on tomato. The six AG-3 isolates caused stem rot on young potato plants. While, all reference isolates of AG-3 PT causing stem rot of young potato plants incited foot rot on tomato. The two AG-2-1 isolates and an AG-2-Nt reference isolate caused severe leaf spot on tobacco leaves. The sequences of rDNA- ITS region and rDNA-IGS1 region of the AG-3 isolates showed high similarity to that of AG-3 PT isolates. Phylogenetic tree based on ITS and IGS1 regions of rDNA indicated that the AG-2-1 isolates from tomato formed a single clade with AG-2-Nt isolates and that they were separate from Japanese AG-2-1 isolates (culture type II). Pathogenicity tests and DNA sequence evaluation of the causal fungi revealed that the present isolates of AG-3 and AG-2-1 belonged to AG-3 PT and AG-2-Nt, respectively. This is the first report of tomato foot rot caused by R. solani in Japan.     

Biological diversity of Rhizoctonia solani (AG-3) in a northern potato-cultivation environment in Finland

A total of 119 isolates of Rhizoctonia were collected from stem canker lesions, stolon and root lesions, hymenia on stems, or from black scurf on tubers of potato plants ( Solanum tuberosum ) in Finland (latitudes 60–67°N). All isolates except three belonged to anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) of R. solani , as determined by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Sensitivity of the 119 isolates to the fungicide flutolanil was tested in vitro (EC₅₀ values 0·14–0·75  µ g active ingredient mL⁻¹). The isolates also varied considerably in growth rate (5·1–14·8 mm day⁻¹). The severity of disease caused by 99 isolates was determined based on the proportion of potato sprouts affected by lesions, discoloration or death, which was c . 1–60%. Only two isolates that were able to cause severe symptoms showed particularly low sensitivity to the fungicide and rapid growth rate. One isolate each of anastomosis groups AG-2-1 and AG-5 and an unknown, binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were detected. The AG-5 isolate and the binucleate isolate caused mild symptoms on potato sprouts, whereas the AG-2-1 isolate was not pathogenic. Taken together, AG-3 of R. solani was the predominant causal agent of the stem canker and black scurf diseases of potato in Finland and showed considerable variability in disease severity, fungicide sensitivity and growth rate in vitro .     

Postharvest dark skin spots in potato tubers are an oversuberization response to Rhizoctonia solani infection

Israeli farmers export 250,000 tons of potato tubers annually, ≈40,000 tons of which are harvested early, before skin set. In recent years, there has been an increase in the occurrence of dark skin spots on early-harvested potato tubers ('Nicola') packed in large bags containing peat to retain moisture. The irregular necrotic spots form during storage and overseas transport. Characterization of the conditions required for symptom development indicated that bag temperature after packing is 11 to 13°C and it reaches the target temperature (8°C) only 25 days postharvest. This slow decrease in temperature may promote the establishment of pathogen infection. Isolates from typical lesions were identified as Rhizoctonia spp., and Koch's postulates were completed with 25 isolates by artificial inoculation performed at 13 to 14°C. Phylogenetic analysis, using the internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) of rDNA genes, assigned three isolates to anastomosis group 3 of Rhizoctonia solani. Inoculation of wounded tubers with mycelium of these R. solani isolates resulted in an oversuberization response in the infected area. With isolate Rh17 of R. solani, expression of the suberin biosynthesis-related genes StKCS6 and CYP86A33 increased 6.8- and 3.4-fold, respectively, 24 h postinoculation, followed by a 2.9-fold increase in POP_A, a gene associated with wound-induced suberization, expression 48 h postinoculation, compared with the noninoculated tubers. We suggest that postharvest dark spot disease is an oversuberization response to R. solani of AG-3 infection that occurs prior to tuber skin set.     

Molecular tools to investigate Rhizoctonia solani distribution in soil

Real-time PCR protocols were developed to detect and discriminate 11 anastomosis groups (AGs) of Rhizoctonia solani using ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (AG-1-IA, AG-1-IC, AG-2-1, AG-2-2, AG-4HGI+II, AG-4HGIII, AG-8) or β-tubulin (AG-3, AG-4HGII, AG-5 and AG-9) sequences. All real-time assays were target group specific, except AG-2-2, which showed a weak cross-reaction with AG-2^tabac. In addition, methods were developed for the high throughput extraction of DNA from soil and compost samples. The DNA extraction method was used with the AG-2-1 assay and shown to be quantitative with a detection threshold of 10⁻⁷ g of R. solani per g of soil. A similar DNA extraction efficiency was observed for samples from three contrasting soil types. The developed methods were then used to investigate the spatial distribution of R. solani AG-2-1 in field soils. Soil from shallow depths of a field planted with Brassica oleracea tested positive for R. solani AG-2-1 more frequently than soil collected from greater depths. Quantification of R. solani inoculum in field samples proved challenging due to low levels of inoculum in naturally occurring soils. The potential uses of real-time PCR and DNA extraction protocols to investigate the epidemiology of R. solani are discussed.     

Aetiology of Rhizoctonia in sheath blight of maize in Sichuan

Rhizoctonia isolates obtained from maize grown in commercial fields in 33 representative counties (or cities) in Sichuan province in China were characterized according to colony morphology, hyphal anastomosis and pathogenicity. Of 141 isolates, 116 were identified as R. solani , 23 as R. zeae and two as binucleate Rhizoctonia . The isolates of R. solani were assigned to four anastomosis groups (AG): AG-1-IA (101 isolates, accounting for 71.6% of the total), AG-1-IB (2, 1.4%), AG-4 (9, 6.4%) and AG-5 (4, 2.8%). The two isolates of binucleate Rhizoctonia belonged to AG-K. On maize, isolates of AG-1-IA caused typical sheath blight symptoms. Lesions produced by isolates of AG-4, AG-5, AG-1-IB and AG-K were darker than those of AG-1-IA. Rhizoctonia zeae usually caused discontinuous lesions with a dark brown margin and a brown centre on the leaf sheaths, as well as ear rot. Isolates of AG-1-IA were the most virulent to maize, with an average lesion length of approximately 15 cm. Isolates of R. zeae produced lesions approximately 12 cm long, while those of AG-4, AG-5, AG-1-IB and AG-K were progressively shorter. On potato dextrose agar (PDA; pH 6.4), the minimum temperature for mycelial growth of R. zeae isolates was 14–18°C, the maximum 38–40°C and optimum 30°C. Isolates of R. zeae did not grow on PDA (28°C) at pH 2.0, the optimum for growth being pH 6.4.